One and Done

"I was in middle school when the rule came about. When I first learned about it, I had mixed opinions. In a way, it's good because a kid needs that college experience -- to go through those changes and being closer to being an adult and learn that responsibility at the college level. At the same time, I don't believe the rule should be put in place because it's predicting somebody else's life -- you should be able to make your own path because you never know what that person's situation may be at home or with their family. By the end of my first year in college, I was seriously thinking about coming back. I loved playing for Kentucky so it was a tough decision but at the end of the day, I had to do what's best for me and my family."- DeMarcus Cousins talking to ESPN about the One and Done rule in the NBA. (Bold emphasis is mine)

The quote I just linked to is a ESPN article with all the players who only attended one year of college since the one and done rule was implemented in the NBA before the 2007 season. I suggest reading all the quotes because they give everyone an interesting hindsight in what these players were thinking and if they regret their decisions.

I bring this up for two reasons. First the college basketball season has kinda started with some games here and there. I wish college basketball had one opening night, but that's another rant for another day. The second reason is my extreme dislike of the one and done rule.

First complaint is what Cousins so eloquently brings up. The NBA has no idea what these players family life is like. Maybe one of these players has a sick family member. Maybe one of these players is the only chance his family has getting out of debt. Depriving these kids a chance to earn a living as soon as they are 18 is completely ridiculous and would probably be illegal if there wasn't already an agreement between the owners and players in the collective bargaining agreement.

My second complaint is that the one and done rule to me has dampened the amount of college basketball that I watch and has really watered down college basketball in my opinion. With the one and done there is too much turnover in college basketball. Once you see how good a player could be, he's off to the NBA. So you're rooting for different players every single year instead of rooting for a group of players for at least two or three years. And that has to me has watered down college basketball.


I've seen some NBA writers talk on Twitter that the one and done rule in the NBA is being talking about during the CBA talks, but it's obviously a small issue in the big picture. I hope this issue is at least discussed once they figure out the BRI issues.

Now if the one and done rule is did away with, I hope the NBA goes back to allowing high school kids to enter the draft. They're 18 and more than old enough to enter the workforce like everyone else. If that doesn't happen, then the rule should make these kids go to at least two years of school before they can enter the draft. Then we at least get some sort of continuity in the college game.

I had to discuss this topic with the Colonel at the Mos Eisley Cantina so we met up for burgers and beers to chat.

"I honestly don't know how," says the Colonel "these leagues get away with age limits. Even with a collective bargaining agreement I don't see how this could be legal in a court of law."

"I remember in the Maurice Clarett case," I say "that the district court ruled in his favor by the 2nd circuit ruled in favor of the NFL but I forget the reasons why. I think it had to do with the CBA."

"That's an issue I wouldn't mind seeing taken to the supreme court," says the Colonel who is surprisingly passionate about this topic. "I doubt though someone would want to waste five years of their lives going to court and not playing."

"Back to the original topic," I say not wanting to get in a law debate because I would be grossly over-matched against the Colonel. "Would you rather see the NBA make players go for two years?"

"Well I obviously would want to see them have the option to go straight to the NBA from high school," says the Colonel. "If that doesn't happen then I yeah I want to see these kids go to school for at least two years. It's obviously for selfish reasons because I love college basketball so much. I also think it would be good for these players for they can mature both as players and people. College helps people mature."

"It would also give them an idea of what a team structure would look like," I say.

"Oh sure," says the Colonel. "Most of these kids play on AAU teams which don't exactly preach team basketball. At least in college they'll be in a offensive system, they'll learn how to play team defense. These are little things that are huge for college players who want to play in the NBA one day."

The Colonel abruptly changed topics from the one and done rule to his love of the history of the Ottoman Empire. So I guess that about ends his feelings on the topic. I agree with him on playing in college and the structure it provides.